If correlational analyses indicate that higher levels of depression are related to poorer psychical health, can we infer that depression causes poor health?

Correct answer: A. No, because correlated variables do not indicated causal relationships

  • A. No, because correlated variables do not indicated causal relationships
  • B. No, because correlated variables are not based on inferential statistics
  • C. Yes, because correlated variables indicated causal relationships
  • D. Yes, because correlated variables are based on inferential statisticsTake Psychology Courses

Explanation

Correlation shows that two variables vary together but does not establish which causes which, or whether a third factor affects both. Therefore, depression may be associated with poor physical health without being proven to cause it.

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